Good Morning!
Wow! We only have one more week and this session of bible study will draw to a close. Have you enjoyed Hebrews: The Nearness of King Jesus by Lisa Harper? I would love to know your thoughts. I welcome any comments on this study and suggestions for future studies that you would like to see offered.
Our scripture text for Week 5 was Hebrews 10:19-25,32-39. Lisa Harper shared with us 3 tips that she believed the author of Hebrews gave to the people of God based on these verses.
Tip #1 Move Toward Jesus with Confidence
“Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh), and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22
Because Jesus opened accessibility to God by the sacrifice of His body, torn like the veil of the Temple, we, who were far off, can now draw near with confidence to God. We have a true and permanent high priest who is continually interceding on our behalf. His blood having paid the redemption price once for all. Have you ever thought about how you approach Him? Do you approach God with confidence or do you approach Him with fear and trembling? Or do you approach God with no thought of the privilege of doing so?
Tip #2 Hang On to Hope
“Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
I’ve discovered the correlation that the confession of my hope is more steadfast; the more that I trust God and believe in His faithfulness. How about you?
Tip #3 Encourage Others and Engage in Christian Community
“And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24,25
Encouragement, I believe, is a necessary component in today’s world. At times, I’ve felt that evil would win out because I’ve been so discouraged by the lack of morality, the level of physical and spiritual poverty, and the abundance of violence and depravity in the world. We need one another. Community provides protection against all the ‘bad’ that we hear, see, and experience and can equip us with the means to persevere in our service to God. We need to encourage each other to be righteous and to hold fast to our confession of Him.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised… We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” Hebrews 10:35,36,39
Questions to Consider:
- What point do I think the pastor of Hebrews was trying to make when he compared the Temple curtain to the flesh of Jesus? {Heb. 7:25; 10:19-22}
- How is Jesus the entry point to a relationship with God?
- What are some signs in my life that signify that my faith in Jesus is ‘living and active’ ?
- How do I encourage others — with words or actions?
- Who can I encourage in their faith today?
Begin Week 6 work this week. I know that you can make it and finish well. You’re awesome!
Have a wonderful and blessed week,
Mimi
